Back-to-School Backpacks: What New Research Says About Kids' Spines

A 2025 study of primary school students found more than half already reporting back pain, much of it tied to how they carry their bags. Here is what the research shows and how Las Vegas families can lighten the load this school year.

What the New Research Found

A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research in May 2025 looked at 384 primary school students in Omdurman, Sudan, aged 7 to 13, and found that 52.1% of them already reported back pain. The researchers also weighed the students' loaded backpacks and compared them against the students' body weight.

More than half of the group, 52.3%, were carrying schoolbags that exceeded the widely cited 10% to 15% body-weight guideline. Roughly 49.5% routinely slung their bag over one shoulder rather than using both straps, a habit the study authors connected to a higher rate of reported back pain. Walking to school for 10 to 20 minutes and carrying the bag through a full morning of classes were also linked to more complaints of discomfort.

It is one study from one region, so it should not be read as proof that every child with a heavy backpack will develop back pain. But it lines up with decades of smaller studies and pediatric guidance, and it is a useful, current reminder as Southern Nevada families gear up for a new school year.

Why a Growing Spine Notices Extra Weight

A child's spine, discs and supporting muscles are still developing, and repeated uneven loading, like a bag pulled to one side, or straps set too loose, asks the spine and shoulder muscles to compensate to stay upright. Over a school year of daily use, that compensation can show up as muscle fatigue, rounded shoulders, or a noticeable lean.

This is not a reason for alarm. Most backpack related discomfort in kids is mechanical rather than structural, meaning it tends to ease once the load, fit and carrying habits are corrected. The guidance from pediatric and orthopedic sources is consistent: a loaded backpack should stay at or under roughly 10% to 15% of the child's own body weight, worn on both shoulders, sitting high on the back rather than sagging toward the waist.

A Household Habit, Not Just a Kids' Issue

Backpack habits formed in childhood tend to carry into adulthood, whether that is a laptop bag slung over one shoulder on the way to a Las Vegas office or a gym bag hauled the same way after work. The same basic principles, both straps, weight close to the body, nothing dragging below the waist, apply just as much to grown-up shoulders and lower backs as they do to a seven-year-old's.

For families managing an already sensitive back, whether that is a parent with existing low back pain or a teenager hauling textbooks and sports gear, small adjustments at the start of the school year, like weighing the packed bag on a bathroom scale, can be an easy, no-cost way to head off weeks of nagging discomfort.

When to Get a Professional Opinion

Most backpack-related aches resolve with better fit and lighter loads within a few weeks. Signs that deserve a closer look include pain that persists after the load and straps are corrected, numbness or tingling down an arm, a visible lean or asymmetry in the shoulders, or pain that wakes a child at night.

This article is informational only and is not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. If back or shoulder discomfort in your child, or in yourself, is not settling down with the basics below, our team at Las Vegas Spine & Disc is happy to take a look and talk through non-surgical options. Book a consult whenever it is convenient, no pressure, no promises, just an honest conversation about what is going on.

7 Backpack Habits That Support a Growing Spine

None of these require special equipment, just a few minutes of attention before the first bell rings.

1. Weigh the packed bag: Set it on a bathroom scale and compare it to roughly 10% to 15% of your child's body weight.
2. Use both shoulder straps: One-strap carrying was tied to more reported back pain in the recent study; both straps distribute the load evenly.
3. Keep it high on the back: The bottom of the pack should sit above the waistline, not sag toward the hips.
4. Pack heavy items close to the spine: Textbooks and laptops belong in the compartment nearest the back panel, not the front pocket.
5. Tighten, don't just sling: Snug straps keep the load from swinging and pulling the shoulders backward with each step.
6. Add a waist or chest strap if available: It shifts some weight off the shoulders and onto the hips, which tolerate load better.
7. Clean out the bag weekly: Forgotten binders, extra shoes and water bottles add up fast; a Friday cleanout keeps the weight in check.

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